Top Maoist leader, wife surrender

Top Maoist leader Maniran Singh Sardar, alias Dipak, who was involved in the murder of Jharkhand MP Sunil Mahato, and his wife Kavita, alias Sarathi Sardar, surrendered on Wednesday.

The police are considering the surrender of Dipak and his wife as a major development. The Maoist leaders handed over their arms to Rajeev Mishra, IGP Western range on Wednesday.

The surrender of Dipak and his wife came within a month of seven Maoists including Jayanta had surrendered. Mishra said that the Maoists will be helped to return to the mainstream of life and they will be getting the necessary support for the same. Dipak, who is originally from Belpahari, was a member of Madan Mahato Squad and he was taking part in the activities of the Maoists in Jharkhand in the recent times.

Dipak was wanted since 2001 when his named had cropped in connection with the murder of CPI(M) leader Sudhir Singh Sardar in Jangalmahal. Since then, he got involved in many other attacks which were carried out by the Maoists in Bengal till 2011. After the killing of Kishenji, he had moved across the border in Jharkhand along with his wife.

Police said that his wife used to accompany him more or less in all the attacks in which Dipak had taken part in. A total of 13 cases are pending against Dipak including that of the murder case of Jharkhand MP Sunil Mahato. Ranjit Pal, another Maoist who also surrendered before the police, was also involved in the murder of the MP. With Dipak's surrender, only Madan Mahato and Bikash are the two top leaders who are yet to surrender or get arrested.